Wolf Alice
My Love Is Cool
June 22 2015 (Dirty Hit)
8.5/10
Words: Alison Mack
Five years on from Wolf Alice's formation between Ellie Rowsell and bassist Joff Oddie, they turn out what must surely not only be their own best work to date, but also one set to figure prominently in end of year lists.
Establishing their distinctive, yet flexible, sound on initial EPs, the London quartet have delivered a 12-track full-length debut that from the off with the slow paced 'Turn To Dust's layered vocal folk lilt to the lead single 'Giant Peach' with its distorted vocals and fuzzy synth lines, and back to the acoustic 'Swallowtail' (on which drummer Joel Amey takes over lead vocal duties), a woozy ballad that spirals into ferocious thrash rock.
Live favourite 'Bros', which Rowsell describes as "an ode to childhood imagination and friendship" ("Remember when we cut our hair?/We both looked like boys/but we didn't care"), is a reworked version here, chiming in shining guitars, bouncy drums and echoing harmonies contributing to the light, pop tone. The also revamped 'Fluffy' ("You look smart, but I don't care/I'm not looking for no love affair/I'd sell you my soul, just to get me somewhere!") follows with spiky drums and a Pixies-esque guitar wail. 'Your Love’s Whore', underpinned with a Smashing Pumpkins grunge, while 'Lisbon' kicks off with the grungey riffs and Rowsell's addictive breathy vocal, before introducing layered harmonies and fuzz distortion sneak in.
Confident and genre-defying, Wolf Alice leave no doubt as to why they have been so feted. With 'My Love Is Cool' they show it is more than justified. Cool, indeed.
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